Tablets Enhance Shopping Experience, Customer Perception

Are cash registers headed for extinction? According to new research, 57 percent of shoppers say they think retailers who use tablets and other mobile devices instead of cash registers are more innovative and appealing than competition that does not. Surprisingly, that number comes with just 22 percent of people saying they have shopped in a store with a mobile payment system and with just 43 percent saying they are familiar with the term mobile wallet.

"The cash register has a new rival," said Andrew Paradise, founder and CEO of in-store mobile commerce provider AisleBuyer. "We’re seeing increased interest from retailers in supplementing and potentially replacing traditional registers with a tablet-based mobile point of sale or store associate solution."

That interest is driven by consumers. According to the research, a majority of customers feel that sales associates are more helpful when they are not stuck behind the cash register. Additionally, nearly half of the respondents felt that stores should replace cash registers to make room for more merchandise.

"Equipped with a tablet, store employees can do much more than just help customers checkout," Paradise said. "Now, they can share product information, show video demos and suggest related products, making them a more valuable and profitable part of the in-store sale."

This research was conducted by AisleBuyer as the final part of the three-part "Mobile Shopping Survey Series." The research was based on the responses of 1,027 people.